Personal care sunscreen compositions having reduced eye irritation

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a stable, minimal energy required self-assembling lamellar and spherulite composition comprising: mixture water, fatty alcohol, fatty acid, salt of fatty acid, polyglyceryl fatty acid ester and oils. The present invention relates to composition that can benefit eye mildness, even distribution of sunscreen physical filters on skin and enhanced stability.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION[0001]This application is related to copending U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 148561 (Attorney Docket No. JBP5046USPRV) filed Jan. 30, 2009, the subject matter of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to self-assembling lamellar and spherulite structures that provide enhanced eye mildness of topical personal care sunscreen products, as well as even distribution of product on the skin as well as enhanced physical stability.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Personal care products that are applied topically to the skin, including facial moisturizers, lotions, creams, shampoos, sunscreens and the like, often come into contact with the human eye. This may occur through direct application due to an individual placing the product on his or her hands, applying the product onto the skin and then inadvertently contacting the eye. Another route that such products may take into the eye is that of pe...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]The term “spherulitic G Phase”, as used herein, refers to concentric bilayers alternative with aqueous phase with a G phase or expanded G phase spacing, e.g., small, rounded bodies within the composition that may have a radiate fibrous structure. The term also refers to layers of rounded spherical or spheroidal bodies conforming the structure.

[0015]Preferably, the compositions of this invention contain water and at least one polyglyceryl fatty acid ester, a fatty acid and a salt of said fatty acid and a sunscreen ingredient. The compositions of this invention may preferably also contain a moisturizing agent, saturated single chain fatty alcohol, polyesters, hydrophobic-natured oils and other personal care or cosmetic ingredients. Preferably, the fatty acid is a saturated, single chain fatty acid. In order to achieve the self-forming structures of the compositions of this invention, the appropriate ratio between the saturated single chain fatty acid and its salt is preferably from about 1:2 to about 1:4. Preferably, in order to achieve the self-forming structures of the compositions of this invention, the appropriate ratio between the polyglyceryl fatty acid ester, the fatty acid and the salt of the fatty acid should be about 1:1:2 or higher.

Problems solved by technology

This may occur through direct application due to an individual placing the product on his or her hands, applying the product onto the skin and then inadvertently contacting the eye.

The effects of such a process include ocular tearing, itching, redness and swelling.

Consumers become exceedingly dissatisfied with sunscreen products during the summer months when their eyes sting or burn due to sunscreen products contacting the eye.

Consumers of other types of products, including both leave-on and rinse-off products such as skin creams, cleansers and washes, can experience pain due to the irritating nature of many topically-applied personal care products.

However, when highly occlusive water-in-oil products are used daily, they can prevent the regeneration of natural lipid barrier of the skin generating more dry skin feel after each use.

Typical water-in-oil products' aesthetics often leaves waxy or oily after-feel not suitable for daily use.

Furthermore, there may be a limit on the degree to which water-in-oil vehicles deliver sunscreen efficacy.

Sunscreen filters such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide or any other colloidal particles may be localized mainly in the oil phase of water-in-oil formulations, which may create uneven application of sunscreen filters on skin.

Another problem associated with formulating with metal oxides is the difficulty of establishing formulation stability.

Metal oxides, whether hydrophobically or hydrophilically coated, often settle out of solution in sunscreen products due to heterogeneous suspension and / or dispersion.

Other types of formulations, including leave-on and rinse-off formulations, may raise the same types of issues, especially when an active particulate ingredient is included in these formulations.

Many creams, emulsions, lotions, as well as shampoos and other cleansers, cause stinging and discomfort when instilled into the eye during use.

Further, the compositions described do not address concerns associated with inorganic sunscreen product instability or mildness to skin and eyes.

However, the compositions described therein may contain surfactants that are irritating to the eyes, such as sodium lauroamphoacetate, sodium trideceth sulfate and cocamide MEA.

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